Mara is a producer, actress, entrepreneur, expert strategist and start-up advisor. She is currently an advisor at SxSW Tech Pitch Fest, and Founder of Zhive Media, a media resource hub for Gen Z girls +thems.

This year Mara turned her start-up expertise to the film industry, coaching over 400 filmmakers in business strategy, financing and sales. She’s currently actively producing projects with Emmy award winning and Oscar nominated development teams.

She has over 15 years experience, specializing in emerging tech, mentorship of start-ups, and partnership development. She has managed key investment partnerships for companies in big data, mobile and smart machines. She was on the strategic development team at one of the top innovation labs in New York, as well as the acting advisor to one of the top 50 futurists.  She has coordinated numerous film and tech events from Sundance to Tribeca Film Fest, and received grants from multiple organizations including the NEA, NEH and Third Wave Foundation of New York for her activist work.

Mara is acting in a number of films and series, including a new pilot with Jim O’Heir (Parks + Rec), and in a lead actress role in a new thriller with a two-time Emmy winning production company.  Her mission in life is to create characters and online spaces that help unify the world.  She lives between NYC, LA and a very small town in Massachusetts with lots of trees and the occasional grizzly bear.